Farrell raises concerns about Olympic bid exploration committee

One city councillor is airing several concerns about the 2026 Olympic bid exploration committee unveiled last week.

Former Police Chief Rick Hanson will head up the committee, which will look into a number of areas surrounding a potential bid.

Calgary is the lone city to come forward with interest to the Canadian Olympic Committee.

But Druh Farrell says a lot of things aren’t lining up already, including how the $5-million earmarked by council to look into the bid will be spent.

“For the last week I’ve been asking for a budget and I could not get a clear answer,” Farrell told council on Monday. “I got an offer to meet so that they could explain. I think I could read a budget.”

Farrell also expressed concern that the committee has many high-profile people who will likely endorse the bid, and not enough people looking at the negatives of hosting.

“I didn’t notice an economist on there, somebody who had expertise in what could go wrong with the Olympics and a lot can and do and how could we possibly avoid those pitfalls,” Farrell continued.

Community Services GM Kurt Hansen contended that no decision was final, adding he welcomed any kind of feedback, both positive and negative.

“It’s not a rubber stamp,” Hansen said.

Farrell also voiced worries that bidding on the Olympics will paint the city into a corner where CalgaryNext will have to be supported by taxpayers.

“Does one decision lead to another decision?” Farrell asked. “Council, I worry that we’re going to be painted into a corner here and we need to be fully aware of our obligations before we make them.”